Who’s advancing in the 2025 Pitch Dingman Competition?

Get ready, get set… go! It’s hard to believe, but it’s already here — our 10th anniversary Pitch Dingman Competition! This year, over 97 ventures applied, all vying for their share of $170,000 in prizes. Our panel of judges was able to narrow down the wide range of applicants to reveal the top teams that will be advancing in the 2025 competition. We’re excited to see the top ventures pitch on the big stage at our finals event on April 24 at Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center for a shot at the grand prizes!

Read on to learn more about the tracks and the ventures that will be advancing in the competition:

Alumni Tech Track

In partnership with the UMD Alumni Association, this track supports alumni-founded, tech and software ventures with traction. To be eligible, ventures must have some traction in the form of early customers, and/or a developed MVP/prototype that is being tested, and have less than $100K in annual recurring revenue. The finalist ventures in this campus-wide track for alumni will have access to support in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and coaching to take their ventures to the next step. On April 24, the finalist teams will pitch their businesses to an expert panel of judges on the Finals stage, and the semifinalist teams will showcase at Terp Town for a chance to win additional audience choice prizes.

Alumni Tech Track Finalists – pitching

Cursive – Joseph Thibault ’23 – Cursive is an API for authorship. We verify writing through transparency to support learning and responsible co-creation with AI.

Plan Forward – Anne Spear ’19 – Plan Forward is a decision-making platform for K-12 administrators, transforming raw data into actionable insights. By leveraging educational frameworks and AI models, we don’t just provide data—we make sense of it, helping schools and districts make informed decisions that drive continuous improvement. Our platform empowers educators to monitor progress and adjust strategies in real-time. Plan Forward helps schools tell the story behind their data, turning insights into meaningful action.

Alumni Tech Track Semifinalists

Presixion – Flavia Negrete ’22 – Presixion is developing a multi-channel lateral flow assay that can detect multiple pathogens from a single swab, providing a rapid, cost-effective, and scalable diagnostic solution for infectious diseases.

Bon Voyage – Bosith Weerasinghe ’23 – Optimizing Travel Planning for Single and Multiple-day Trips Using the Powers of Machine Learning and AI

Gym Supreme – Obidi Orakwusi ’12 – Product Design and Technology company with 3 patents. We influence the mass market adoption of self-care using fitness. We help a generation learn to take care of themselves and feel more confident through product design and technology.

Alumni Tech Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

Clinix – Sahar Farajun ’22 – Skip months of reading through thousands of pdfs and clinical notes – Clinix will do it for you! Clinix is a software to automate the data collection, analysis, and entry for clinical research.

Healthier Forms – Jose Leon ’17 – We have created a B2B SaaS platform to help Imaging Centers solve the complex and inefficient process of MRI safety by automating patient screening, implant guideline matching, and safety decision-making through an integrated, user-friendly dashboard.

InZone, Inc. – Jayme Kame ’24 – InZone is an expanding community of tweens built around mindful social media use, unlimited AI characters, fun 3D avatars, and parental oversight. Our primary customers are first‑time social media users aged 8–12 and our secondary customers are parents concerned with their children’s digital well‑being

Makerstate – Jenny Larios Berlin ’04 – Makerstate supports creators by building a clear path to monetizing cultural products with an AI-powered platform offering personalized venture building education, tailored career and artistic goal setting, and tools for independent production at scale. Here creators take ownership of their creative careers!

WISE Cities – Marie Brodsky ’24 – In the future that we hope to live in, our communities are adapted to support us as we age. We envision that we can participate meaningfully, take advantage of the resources available, and connect with one another at community spaces in our vicinity. But today, that world isn’t reality. Instead, although 90% of older adults want to age at home, 40% say they don’t know of organizations in their community that support them. For a change to happen, we need a new avenue for older adults and local providers to connect. WISE Cities spurs this change through an accessible platform for older adults to discover local services and opportunities, paid for by businesses who want to reach older adults.

YourStory – Steve Johnson ’16 – Provides AI-driven educational solutions tailored to K-12 students and teachers, supporting more personalized learning paths.

Alumni Main Street Track

In partnership with the UMD Alumni Association, this track is for alumni-founded, non-tech small businesses that have revenue and initial customers. To be eligible, ventures must have generated at least $1,000 in lifetime revenue and less than $100K in annual recurring revenue (ARR). The finalist ventures in this campus-wide track for alumni will have access to support in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and coaching to take their ventures to the next step. On April 24, the finalist teams will pitch their businesses to an expert panel of judges on the Finals stage, and the semifinalist teams will showcase at Terp Town for a chance to win additional audience choice prizes.

Alumni Main Street Track Finalists – pitching

3708 Spirits – Tony Ajayi ’10, Mitchell Linton, Zachary Spence – 3708 Spirits is an upscale premium locally black-owned agave spirit brand that is handcrafted using traditional methods and only the finest blue agave from Jalisco, Mexico.

Green Mechanics Benefit LLC – Justan Randolph ’19, Larry Davis – Give Us A Problem, We Will Use Nature To Solve It. We support large industrial clients, counties, farmers and municipalities in meeting their environmental permits through our innovative, cost effective and low disturbance nature-based technology portfolio.

Alumni Main Street Track Semifinalists

OcuClips – Mohil Gupta ’19 – The world’s first patented premium eyewear accessory. Say goodbye to discomfort from headphones or external pressure—OcuClips keeps your glasses secure and comfortable all day long.

Bright Labs Diagnostics – Jennifer Ukegbu ’14 – Our DNA, drug, and alcohol testing business provides reliable Testing & Diagnostic Services, Medical & Scientific Equipment Supply, and Consulting, Training, and Specialized Support Services. We serve a diverse customer base, including individuals (B2C) seeking DNA or drug and alcohol testing, businesses (B2B) such as employers, rehab centers, hospitals, and DOT-regulated companies needing workplace drug and alcohol testing, and government agencies (B2G) at the federal, state, and local levels requiring specialized testing solutions. Our expertise ensures accurate, compliant, and confidential testing services tailored to the needs of each client.

Alumni Main Street Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

Dream of Coffee – Reid Xu ’24 – A specialty coffee concept that bridges Gen Z preferences with the artisanal world of third-wave coffee. Through immersive flagship cafés, they partner with roasters to deliver ethically sourced, twist-based coffee experiences.

Envirowell – Alec Soffer ’23 – EnviroWell is an innovative water well technology company that utilizes a patented Safe, Directional, Drought-Resistant Dug Well (SDDW) method developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to provide safer, more cost-efficient alternatives for municipalities and regions with limited water infrastructure.

Ginja Snap – Shaakira DeLoatch ’17 – Ginja Snap is a functional ginger water beverage that transforms a health remedy into a grab-and-go, good and good for you beverage option for wellness enthusiasts. Free of carbonation, artificial flavors, and processed sugars, its ingredients are real and simple: water, organic ginger, raw honey, lemon, and lime. @drinkginjasnap on all social media platforms.

Greenie – Ethan Pham ’24 – Greenie is a flash retail business and e-commerce store, specializing in premium second-hand clothing to offer a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. We host CP Flea, College Park’s first premiere outdoor flea market that brings together 12+ vendors from across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. Our customers are style-conscious Gen Z and Millenials who value individuality, sustainability, and community.

HAT Ladies Pound Cake – Teri Walker ’92 – Hat Ladies Pound Cake Frozen Batter changes the way people bake at home with this frozen pound cake batter that let’s you bake fresh, homemade quality cake with 3-easy steps: Thaw, Pour and Bake – no mixing, measuring or mess!

Onye Vé – Goodness Ihekweme ’21 – Onye Vé exists to redefine luxury fashion by making high-quality, bold, and statement-making pieces accessible to individuals who want to express confidence, individuality, and power through their style. The brand’s core mission is to disrupt the industry by bridging the gap between exclusivity and inclusivity, ensuring that luxury fashion is available for all body types while maintaining high-end craftsmanship and uniqueness.

Main Street and Quattrone Tech Tracks

The semifinalist ventures in these two advanced UMD-CP student tracks will each receive a $500 prize, participate in an entrepreneurship bootcamp, and meet with advisors to help them further accelerate their businesses and make them more competitive for the next round. On Friday, March 28, the semifinalist teams pitched their businesses to an expert panel of judges in Van Munching Hall, and the top 3 of each track will be moving on to pitch on the Finals stage.

Main Street Track Finalists – pitching

Dare to Dream – Takiyah Roberts ’25 – Dare to Dream Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering marginalized communities through entrepreneurship. They provide confidence, education, mentorship, and resources to help individuals chase their dreams unapologetically. Their initiatives include 9th-12th grade afterschool programs, the Young, Diverse, & Gifted Event Series, and an international project in Ecuador to build entrepreneurship among young dreamers.

Energy by Evelyn – Evelyn Murphy ’28 – Healthy, delicious snack food products made from simple, natural ingredients.

Papa Suya – Yassine Boukari ’27 – A West African culinary brand innovating through licensing, authentic products, and a scalable fast-casual model.

Main Street Track Semifinalists

Body Essentials by Abiara – Mathea Abiara ’28 – Body Essentials by Abiara (BEBA) is a bodycare brand dedicated to crafting high-quality products with cold-pressed, unrefined butters and oils, combined with carefully selected ingredients that cater to a wide range of skin types. At the heart of our formulations is Shea Butter, sustainably sourced directly from Nigeria, ensuring both authenticity and excellence in every product.

M’Elyon Organics – Adewunmi Agagu ’25 – At M’Elyon Organics, we passionately craft organic, handmade haircare products, blending the purest plant-based herbs, lightweight oils, and essential oils. Our mission? To unlock the secret to radiant, thriving hair. Each product in our lineup is a testament to our commitment to using natural and chemical free products, formulated to not only promote hair growth and strengthen follicles but to also combat hair breakage, hair thinning and shedding, and to block DHT (dihydrotestosterone), lastly, to also infuse your hair with lasting nourishment. Beyond nourishment, our creations boast anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties, ensuring your scalp’s health is always at its peak.

MundaneMarketplace – Obi Nzerue ’26 – Mundane Marketplace is a clothing brand that challenges the ordinary by redefining the everyday. We take inspiration from the overlooked details of daily life and transform them into unique, thought-provoking designs. Our brand thrives on the intersection of simplicity and creativity, making the mundane feel extraordinary. Our customers are individuals who appreciate minimalism with a deeper meaning—people who find beauty in the routine, the unassuming, and the often-ignored. They are creatives, deep thinkers, and those who seek to express themselves through subtle yet impactful fashion. Whether they’re artists, students, or professionals, our customers resonate with the idea that the mundane isn’t boring it’s a canvas for storytelling.

Main Street Track Semifinalists – honorable mention

Divine Ethereal Collections – Daisy Lopez ’26 – At Divine’s Jewelry, our vision is to empower individuals to express their unique style and embrace self-love through exquisite jewelry pieces. We aim to inspire confidence, celebrate individuality, and evoke a sense of self-expression in every wearer.

Grinzo Project – Anthony Kang ’27, Shen Gu ’25 – Grinzo is our team’s original IP brand that sells Grinzo-related creative merchandise such as keyrings, coasters, dolls, badges and other cultural and creative accessories. Our goal is to provide a unique and creative product experience for young people.

Ivansupply – Ivan Marroquin ’26 – A sneaker and streetwear brand with daily restocks, offering authentic products and fast shipping.

Linen and Purple Co – Ivon Santos Castellon ’25 – Linen and Purple Co is a purpose-led clothing store created to provide more women with modest clothing options for everyday wear, and special occasion. We aim to bridge the gap in the fashion industry for modest fashion.

Movement Street – Lyric Amodia ’25 – The Movement Street is a nonprofit organization founded in 2020 with the mission to make community service accessible, enjoyable, and impactful. We address the challenge of disengagement by creating creative pathways for people to volunteer, especially younger generations, in ways that feel inclusive and rewarding. Through in-person, virtual, and passive service initiatives, we foster a sense of connection and belonging, bringing people together to make a positive impact in communities they may not call home. Our approach transforms volunteering into a shared experience that inspires lasting change. Ultimately, we aim to increase volunteerism by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to give back and feel supported.

Noir Auto Detailing – Ysaak Wabreha ’27 – Noir Auto Detailing was founded three years ago with a clear mission; to deliver high-quality, affordable car care to every client. We work with a diverse range of customers, including rental companies, wrap shops, and owners of high-performance vehicles, offering tailored yearly plans and partnerships. Additionally, we serve the general public by providing a wide spectrum of services, from routine maintenance detailing to in-depth disaster detailing. Our goal is to make professional-grade car care accessible and reliable for all.

ProTags – Jason Okorie ’25 – We specialize in creating entirely reusable, aluminum QR code-based business cards and name tags for students and organizations.

Sincere Gear – Adam Antar ’25, ’24 – Discover the essentials you never knew were essential. These are the game-changing products that will seamlessly integrate into your life, becoming indispensable from the moment you experience their transformative power.

Wellness Detailing – David Castillo ’26 – We provide mobile and at-business automobile detailing for both interior and exterior. We also offer paint correction and other vehicle revitalization services.

Quattrone Tech Track Finalists – pitching

BetterU – Saurabh Chapagain ’25 – BetterU is a gamified social habit builder that helps people become the best versions of themselves in a fun & social way!

Saved – Aayush Gupta ’25 – We turn live streams into viral clips.

Tailored – David Shukhin ’27, Ian Picard ’26 – We are making it easier and more accessible to buy secondhand clothing so we can reduce the impact of fast fashion on the environment. We are doing this by utilizing an AI-powered recommendation system paired with a tinder-style swiping interface. We are currently on the IOS App Store with 200+ users.

Quattrone Tech Track Semifinalists

PropertyWorx AI – Aaron Warren ’26 – PropertyWorx AI™ is a next-generation Proptech SaaS platform designed to revolutionize property management by streamline vendor-tenant communication, improve property maintenance operations, and enhance the customer experience for property management teams. The platform integrates Generative AI, Agentic Ai and a mobile-first experience. Our platform enhances automates maintenance workflows, property managers workflow automation, communication tools, analytics, tenant engagement and vendor management solutions powered by Insite22™ to help property managers reduce tenant turnover, improve operational efficiency, and simplify maintenance coordination.

Omniscouts – Vaibhav Vasudevan ’28 – Building AI agents for industrial/chemical sales reps finding exactly the right people to target with all the context.

Quattrone Tech Track Quarterfinalists – honorable mention

App Dev – Matt Gashaw ’25 – App Dev is bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world software development. This organization has a dual approach to social good; one is equipping UMD students with practical experience, crucial for securing internships in the saturated tech industry, and developing software for socially impactful corporate projects.

Finaive – Henry Uwabor ’26 – Finaive is an AI-powered escrow platform designed to make online transactions safer and more seamless for businesses, freelancers, and e-commerce users. Our platform ensures secure payments by holding funds in escrow until both parties fulfill their contractual obligations. Leveraging AI-driven fraud detection and automated dispute resolution, we minimize financial risks, prevent fraud, and streamline the payment process.

OMAL – Dikennaya Ejiogu ’25 – At OMAL Solutions, we specialize in matching businesses with the perfect freelancers to elevate their brand. From logo and brand identity design to web and UI/UX design, we offer everything you need to take your business to the next level. Our platform is your one-stop solution, streamlining the process of finding top talent and enabling you to fully automate your operations. What makes us different? We don’t just connect you with freelancers; we curate the right team for your unique needs, allowing you to focus on growth while we handle the details. Whether it’s a single project or ongoing support, our flexible packages ensure your business is always ahead of the curve. Though we’re a new agency, we’re fueled by a passion for excellence and a commitment to building lasting relationships. Ready to scale your business with ease? Let’s connect and explore how we can make it happen.

Pickaxe – Pranav Bolla ’25 – Our venture provides a sports betting optimization platform that combines consulting and proprietary software to maximize profits for our customers. We help individuals and groups leverage sportsbook promotions and bonus bets through strategic hedging, ensuring guaranteed profits.

Red Alert – Miles McDonald ’27 – Red Alert: an emergency information distribution system. Red Alert is an alert system to be used in the case of school shooting situations, which notifies students on campus of an emergency and allows them to easily report their status to school and police authorities. What separates Red Alert from other alert systems is its use of student locations to provide top-quality safety.

Sellwase – Bhagavan Bolli ’25 – Our venture offers a secure, university-exclusive platform where students can trade daily essentials such as textbooks, tables, and tech gadgets. We specialize in creating a safe and reliable environment that will only allow students to trade and ensure that every user is a current student or faculty member. This approach keeps the marketplace insulated from outside interference and scams, fostering a community-centric trading space that’s all about student convenience and connection.

SONE – Yonatan Tussa ’26 – An eye-tracking system to improve communication between patients and nurses.

Theki – Kareem Bishr ’25 – Theki is building a trust engine for technical hiring through Web3-verified credentials: Core Product: – Automated/instant credential verification platform that accurately verifies claims made on resumes – Real-time verification through established databases via Chainlink oracles – Privacy-preserving verification using zero-knowledge proofs for sensitive data – Blockchain-stored credentials owned by job seekers

Tranquil – Chirag Jain ’26 – AI-powered mental wellness platform where users can journal their thoughts and engage in weekly AI-driven conversations for emotional support and self-reflection. It integrates a chat feature and plans to incorporate GPT-powered voice interactions for a more natural and engaging experience.

Yuuera – Raymond Flowers ’27 – Yuuera is a platform that empowers teachers to develop engaging and dynamic conversational practice assignments for foreign language students, solving a critical lack of confidence and conversation capabilities of students in foreign language classrooms.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

The finalist ventures in this early stage UMD-CP student track participated in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and marketplace to help them further hone these venture ideas. They submitted 5-min video pitches to an expert panel of judges for their finals, and the winners will be announced on April 24. You can see all of these amazing finalists show off their ideas at Terp Town.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Finalists – Terp Town

AkereRose Glove – Rosabella Mvemba ’27 – Cultivating a love, embrace, and care for thick and curly hair through natural hair tools, education, and community.

Alcclear – Rachel Snow ’28 – Instant Protection Against Drink Spiking.

Arithmetix – Shankar Haridas ’26 – Integrating technical math notation into typing-based note-taking processes.

Artha – Nataraj Shivaprasad ’25 – An intelligent wallet that automates your finances.

Bluuzone Bottles – Robbie Ballentine ’26 – Creating 100% plastic-free, disposable, and compostable water bottles to address the health hazards of microplastics in bottled water.

Breaking The Ice – Isha Kamara ’20, ’25 – Bridging the gaps between Black entrepreneurs, executive directors, and their ecosystem through community-building.

Chic Sweeteners – Brianna Robinson ’28 – Offering gourmet sweeteners with unique flavors for tea lovers to elevate their daily tea rituals.

Dancify – Natali Oleinik ’28 – Using AI to analyze and improve dance performances, offering real-time feedback to help users perfect every move.

Educate – Vraj Patel ’25 – AI-enhanced learning platform that syncs with Canvas LMS, offering personalized study plans and academic support.

EDvancedGPT – Denonte McKinney ’25 – An AI-powered platform for enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in education, offering personalized learning experiences.

FinGo – Tyler Boden ’25 – A personal finance app for high school, college students, and young adults to learn budgeting, saving, and investing.

Proco – Aditya Sengar ’27, Akshita Tiwari ’27, Grace Jagga ’27 – A professional networking platform focused on meaningful mentorship and connections based on personal relationships.

Sit’n Sweet – K’Lor Simms ’26 – A health-conscious bakery offering customizable, wholesome cookies for those seeking a balance of wellness and indulgence.

Podfolio – Feileen Li ’26, Juhi Parikh ’26 – A social podcast platform for discovering, tracking, and sharing podcasts.

Spotter – Kevin Kyle ’27 – An AI-powered mobile app that analyzes and provides real-time feedback for gym workouts.

The Muse Relationship Company – Kris Pipion-Williams ’27 – A web app to provide insights into romantic relationship styles and offer resources for improvement.

Zahara Blends – Kaoutar Cheji ’25 – A premium, ethically sourced clean beauty brand specializing in 100% pure, cold-pressed hair oils.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Semifinalists – Honorable Mention

BenchmarkGo – Alex Hearn ’25 – A GPS-powered mobile app to find, verify, and report benchmark conditions nationwide for surveyors, civil engineers, government agencies, and outdoor enthusiasts.

ByteBabel – Eman Bautista ’25 – Developing an AI-powered tool to seamlessly translate code between languages, frameworks, and architectures for developers and enterprises.

Loco Logoz – Jayla Parrott ’26 – Custom-designed logos and branding services for businesses to establish strong brand identities.

Our Incredible Judges

These early stages of Pitch Dingman Competition set the entire experience into motion and we are grateful for this exceptional group of judges that review, score and provide growth feedback for all applications. These judges are or were founders/investors/entrepreneurial support individuals themselves, and have played significant roles in our programs over the years. Thank you for all you do to support these founders in their journeys!

Round 1

Alumni Tech Track

Athena Abbott ’91
Brin Xu ’23
David Greenfield ’20
Drew Bewick ’88
Evan Shubin ’97
Kelsey Abernathy ’20
MaiLinh Ho
Reed Harrison ’71
Shivam Goyal

Alumni Main Street Track

Connie Ford ’77
Dan Raithel ’24
Francie Wasser ’11
Max Weiner ’96
Sammy Popat ’15

Main Street Track

Barathi Aravindan ’21
Bright Djampa ’22
Brooke Smith ’17
Fredrica Antwi ’15, ’21
Henrik de Gyor ’98
Natalie Urban ’19
Shane Kim ’98
Theresa Alfaro Daytner ’89
Tricia Homer

Quattrone Tech Track

Aishwarya Tare ’22
Alla McCoy ’13
Ben Slavin ’08
Bryan Houlton ’22
David Steele ’18
Jake Taub ’20
Josh Doying ’23
Mildred Diggs ’24
Rob Cohen
Ryan Downing ’22
Shannon Hynds
Sophie Li ’21
Tim Shaw ’90

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

Brandon Schwab ’15
Cedric Nwafor ’18, ’21
Chris Light ’93
Courtney Johnson ’23
Ellen McGeoch ’10, ’17
Erich Meissner ’18
Jenny Larios Berlin
Kobby Osei-Kusi
Latrice Wilson ’21
Marie Brodsky ’24
Matt Foulk ’23
Nazea Khan ’20, ’24
Nima Farshchi ’20
Obidi Orakwusi ’12
Phillip Alvarez ’22
Polly Vail ’04
Robert Choe ’23
Sourabh Mane ’24
Vaughn Hatfield ’25

Round 2 – Semifinals

Alumni Tech & Main Street Tracks

Bill Smith ’81
Chris Malone ’86
Hillary Berman MBA ’03
Moniesha Shorter ’96, MPP ’20

Main Street Track

Abby Malchow ’17
Neal Kursban MBA ’00
Sydney Parker ’18
Theresa Alfaro Daytner ’89

Quattrone Tech Track

Evan Shubin ’97
Maurice Boissiere ’89
Shalanda Armstrong MBA ’12

Round 3 – Finals

Alumni Tech & Main Street Tracks

Akash Magoon ’18
Elana Fine ’97
Jasmin El Kordi ’83
Sayed Naved MS ’92
Seema Alexander ’00

Quattrone Tech & Main Street Tracks

Ali von Paris ‘12
Chris Ballenger
David Quattrone MBA ’05
Jennifer Hsin ’98
Kendall Holbrook MBA ’01
Tom Parsons ’93 MBA ’10

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

Bryan Houlton ’22
Elana Fine ’97
Gary Swart ’83
Jainaba Ceesay
Jordana Lynn Armstrong
Sarah Miller
Shannon Hynds
Steve Freishtat ’81

Tagged dingman center, entrepreneurship, Fearless Founders, pitch dingman, startup, Student Entrepreneur

Mar 20 2024

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Pitch Dingman

Who’s advancing in the 2024 Pitch Dingman Competition?

Get ready, get set… go! In another record-breaking year, Pitch Dingman Competition received over 107 venture applications, all vying for their share of $170,000 in prizes. Our panel of judges was able to narrow down the wide range of applicants to reveal the top teams that will be advancing in the 2024 competition. We’re excited to see the top ventures pitch on the big stage at our finals event on April 25 at Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center for a shot at the grand prizes!

Read on to learn more about the tracks and the ventures that will be advancing in the competition:

All Stars Track

The finalist ventures in this Maryland-wide track for alumni and students at University System of Maryland (USM) Institutions will have access to support in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and coaching in the coming weeks to take their ventures to the next step. On April 25, the finalist teams will pitch their businesses to an expert panel of judges on the Finals stage, and the semifinalist teams will showcase at Terp Town for a chance to win additional audience choice prizes.

All Stars Track Finalists – pitching

Fem Equity – Adeola Ajani ’20 (Towson University); Malir Burks – Fem Equity is an AI Powered Future of Work platform that creates solutions for women and underrepresented professionals going through pay or professional gaps in real-time. It is a double-sided platform that provides these solutions for women and minority professionals and gives organizations access to a highly qualified diverse pool of young women and minority professionals.

NextStep Robotics – Bradley Hennessie ’09 (Towson University) – NextStep Robotics is building the next generation of rehabilitation robotic solutions for neurorecovery. Focusing initially on stroke and neuroplasticity training this devices aims to be efficacious first, fit clinic work flow second, and accessible through cost management.

All Stars Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

Biochemical Analyzer – Chad Sundberg ’25 (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) – Enables automated, real-time measurement of analytes within biomanufacturing processes

THE SHELLER – Shelby Blondell ’18 (University of Baltimore) – THE SHELLER is a patented, stainless steel, seafood multitool – mallet, picker, and bottle opener – made in Maryland.

Xeddy – Basil Udo ’22 (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) – Xeddy is a multi-business platform for restaurant rewards.

All Stars Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

AidSmart – Jaivien Kendrick ’24 (Bowie State University) – AidSmart is the first mobile app that turns financial aid learning into a fun board game, helping HBCU students master financial aid literacy.

Jay’s Watermelonade – Joyson Balisamore ’26 (University of Baltimore) – Jay’s Watermelonade is a natural juice brand based in Baltimore on a mission to lower cardiovascular mortality by promoting healthier hydration and offering delicious, natural alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages.

Lytos Vodka – Alex Zephir ’14 (Towson University); Billy Fanshawe ’14 (Towson University) – Lytos Vodka is a patent-pending, high alkaline, gluten-free, premium vodka with added electrolytes which include salt, potassium, and phosphorus. Lytos Vodka was born in Baltimore, MD, distilled in Columbia, MD, and enjoyed everywhere.

Taqueros Del Mar – Thomas Zinzi Jr ’25 (Salisbury University) – Late Night Taco shop founded to reduce drunk driving/alcohol poisoning by bringing Mexican Street cuisine and culture to the college scene.

The Collegiate Care Experience, LLC – Kendal Howell ’26 (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) – The Collegiate Care Experience is a faith-based on-campus self-care supply store bridging the gap between college students and hygiene products. Currently, it is based at the University of Maryland Baltimore County serving students through online order & pickup and frequent pop-up shops for an in-person experience.

Tomorrow’s Bio – David White ’26 (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science) – Created a single camera ingestible tablet for large animal endoscopies. The tablet works by capturing images and sending them to an application to be used to assist with diagnoses, making it safer for vets to use while also reducing costs on farmers.

Alumni Pilot Track

The finalist ventures in this pilot track for alumni from UMD-CP will have access to support in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and coaching in the coming weeks to take their ventures to the next step. On April 25, the finalist teams will pitch their businesses to an expert panel of judges on the Finals stage, and the semifinalist teams will showcase at Terp Town for a chance to win additional audience choice prizes.

Alumni Pilot Track Finalists – pitching

BrightWave Partners LLC – Paula Henry ’84; Tim Shaw; Ken Peretti – BrightWave’s technology enables customers across a dozen industries to produce renewable feedstocks on a minimal footprint. Their photobioreactors, used to cultivate algae and seaweed, can be co-located with primary manufacturing or refining activities.

JUUCE – Jake Taub ’20; Pouya Susanabadifarahani ’19; David Greenfield ’20 – JUUCE offers secure and convenient on-the-go charging solutions through portable charger rental kiosks and digital signage for venues and events.

Alumni Pilot Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

NotUrAverage Candles – Courtney Johnson ’23 – NotUrAverage Candles is a coconut wax candle company that illuminates the world of science through fragrance.

Travana – Rohan Tangadpelli ’23 – Travana is your AI-powered travel companion, streamlining the journey from inspiration to destination, making travel planning seamless, personalized, and fun.

Alumni Pilot Track Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

CSL Therapy – Tai Brown ’13 – A regulatory organization working to bridge the gaps of surgical care for American healthcare stakeholders.

Cursive Technology, Inc. – Joe Thibault ’07, MBA ’23 – Cursive Technology is focused on the writing process, using Machine Learning and AI to support accelerating writing skills development, provide feedback, provide shareable verification, and promote academic integrity.

E-Livestock Global Inc. – Chris Light ’93 – An award-winning healthy livestock traceability platform powered by Blockchain.

Korion Health – Akshaya Anand ’23 – The mission of Korion Health is to expand access to healthcare screenings in an ultra patient-centered and culturally competent way, enabling not just technical screenings but also breaking down barriers to knowledge, allowing people to own their data, and ultimately engaging more people in their own healthcare. Their first product is an electronic stethoscope and guided user interface that allows anyone to record heart and lung sounds from the comfort and convenience of their home.

Lumikha Cosplay Resale – Myleah Lofland ’18 – Buying and selling cosplay on social media has long been a pain for cosplayers. Lumikha Cosplay Resale is a community marketplace where users can buy and sell costume items specifically for the cosplay community.

Redhelm Labs – Neil Sorkin ’23 – Redhelm Labs empowers limitless drone flight through laser power beaming.

Main Street and Quattrone Tech Tracks

The semifinalist ventures in these two advanced UMD-CP student tracks will each receive a $500 prize, participate in an entrepreneurship bootcamp, and meet with advisors in the coming weeks to help them further accelerate their businesses and make them more competitive for the next round. On Friday, March 31, the semifinalist teams pitched their businesses to an expert panel of judges in Van Munching Hall, and the top 3 of each track will be moving on to pitch on the Finals stage.

Main Street Track Finalists – pitching

Cookies By Drew – Drew Haas ’24 – Cookies By Drew is a business that sells stuffed cookies and cookie cakes all over the DMV area and nationwide. They cater events, sell locally, and distribute their cookies in 9 different Foxtrot locations along with other stores and bakeries.

Dawson’s Detailing – James Dawson ’24 – Dawson’s Detailing provides the best detailing in the DMV, creating an experience that goes beyond the physical cleaning of the car.

StreetLoveDMV – Jeffrey Kyei-Asare ’25 – StreetLoveDMV is the #1 place for Streetwear You Love. It is a student-run vintage and streetwear clothing store dedicated to promoting positivity and building community through fashionable clothing. With over 2000+ total happy customers, it’s a hub for street fashion enthusiasts.

Main Street Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

AfroLuxe Glam Shop – Chelsea Amadi, ’24 – AfroLuxe Glam Shop is an online cosmetic store that currently sells a variety of AfroLuxe brand cosmetic products. Products offered by this brand are curated to African American women and were made to address problems faced by black women in the beauty industry. AfroLuxe Glam Shop celebrates the luxury in African American beauty at a very affordable price.

Exercise Network – Candace Austin ’24 – Exercise Network designs customizable fitness and aquatic programs, aiming to motivate kids, especially those who struggle in larger group activities, to stick with sports and physical activity. They offer private lessons and small group class options, differentiating themselves from competitors by providing multidiscipline programs in a non-competitive, stress-free environment with a low instructor to student ratio.

Retro Boomin – Ethan Pham ’24 – Retro Boomin is an e-commerce and flash retail business, specializing in premium second-hand clothing to offer a sustainable alternative to fast fashion.

Quattrone Tech Track Finalists – pitching

Engauge – Rodrigo Sandon ’24; Marie Brodsky ’24 – Students in large lecture math courses often get confused mid-lecture and are not willing to raise their hand to express that they are no longer following.

Iffirm, LLC DBA Journiy – Mildred Diggs ’24 – Journiy is a digital care management company that uses a culturally tailored and individualized approach to make it easy for patients to follow their treatment plans. With Journiy, patients can effectively manage their chronic diseases and improve their overall health.

Vyne – Shaurya Saran ’25; Vaughn Hatfield ’25 – Vyne is an innovative application designed to revolutionize the thrifting experience for buying and selling clothes within local communities (specific focus on college campuses). Their mission is to help make student fashion more sustainable on campuses everywhere.

Quattrone Tech Track Semifinalists – Terp Town

Dondon Animation Tech – Shu Chen ’24 – Dondon Animation Tech provides state-of-the-art software to assist artists and producers making traditional 2D animation.

Sociable AI – Thomas Noh ’24 – Sociable AI is an AI social media manager platform designed to automate social media interactions for creators, brands, and businesses. Their no-code web app allows users to train data and clone their brand voice as an AI to automate interactions such as DMs and comments on social media platforms like Instagram. The platform aims to make it easier for users to engage with their audience and grow their brand presence online.

Temporal – Sourabh Mane ’25; Niklas Elmqvist – Bringing new dimension to entertainment experience. Explore, analyze & share your sports telemetry inside your browser.

Main Street & Quattrone Tech Tracks Quarterfinalists – Honorable Mention

BetterU – Saurabh Chapagain ’25 – BetterU is a gamified social habit builder that helps people become the best versions of themselves in a fun & social way!

Chatty – Tarun Thatavarthi ’24; Advait Kushe – Chatty is an AI interviewing agent who is able to give useful feedback to software engineers and guide them towards smarter problem-solving during interviews. Chatty is also capable of collecting user data through these conversations and producing detailed performance analysis.

E. Ozie Studios – Ijeoma Asonye ’24 – E. Ozie Studios is a multimedia creative house that blends nature, tech, and art in storytelling for the adult and YA-crossover market.

Heart2Starr – Illy Lozano ’24 – Heart2Starr began in 2013 as a safe space for poet Ileana ‘Illy’ Lozano. It follows Lozano through her artistic journey and quest to spread appreciation for the arts.

Hermes – Rohan Bajpai ’24 – Hermes empowers developer teams to focus on innovation and maximize productivity with their unified, searchable development platform.

Planda – Hevander Da Costa ’25 – Planda is the go-to travel planning social media that allows you to effortlessly organize trips to your dream destinations on the go, share your exciting adventures, and explore all the places your friends have been.

Sellwase – Bhagavan Bollina Bolli ’25 – Sellwase offers a secure, university-exclusive platform where students can trade daily essentials such as textbooks, tables, and tech gadgets.

Slut for Yarn – Anna Boyd, ’24 – Slut for Yarn sells ethically handmade crochet items for all body types at an affordable price point.

StudentHousingEU – Justin Wagner ’24 – StudentHousingEU is an organization developed by past study abroad students. They offer an online database of safe and verified apartments for students to rent through the platform. Additionally, StudentHousingEU provides insight into the culture and infrastructure of where students plan to study abroad. Utilizing the services offered by StudentHousingEU, students can feel confident in their decision to study abroad.

Savor – Saurav Vidyadhara ’25 – Savor enables restaurants to create and market fire sales on items about to expire, allowing them to increase their profit margins and reduce food waste.

Taty’s Desserts – Randi Whitehurst – Taty’s Desserts is a Latina-based and owned dessert company.

Ticker – Max Harris ’25; Max Kaufmann – Ticker Markets is a network for venture capital limited partner secondaries. They allow VC funds to offer selling opportunities to their investors throughout the lifetime of the fund. And have built a network and system to streamline the transaction process.

Vizuri – Crystal Ndungu ’25 – Vizuri is an aggregator site to consolidate all the people, primarily students, in our area that can do hair, nails, haircuts, hair braiding, etc.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

The finalist ventures in this early stage UMD-CP student track will participate in an entrepreneurship bootcamp and marketplace in the coming weeks to help them further hone these venture ideas. On April 25, the top teams will show off their ideas to an expert panel of judges at Terp Town in the Finals Event.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Finalists – Terp Town

Bon Voyage – Nethmi Weerasinghe ’24; Bosith Weerasinghe ’23; Ravindu Adikarige; Sameera Herath; Markell Shepherd – Optimizing travel planning for single and multiple-day trips using the power of machine learning.

Chai Shai – Ismaeel Ibrahim ’25 – Chai Shai makes special Pakistan chai called dhood patti with a perfected recipe of cookies cultivating a warm mix of flavors to bring people together.

Cloudola – Yifan Zhang ’27 – Violinists often suffer from fatigue after long practice sessions because their shoulder rest, which props the instrument against the body, does not fit well. Cloudola makes custom shoulder rests tailored for each violinist’s body using 3D scan data.

Exchange Roots – Evie Scott ’26 – Exchange Roots is a digital farmer’s market, designed to promote local food systems and allow small farmers and home gardeners to sell or exchange produce in their local community.

Full – Kiran Muthusamy MBA ’25 – Next-generation food service.

Kulqi – Mary Sangurima Loayza ’24 – A fintech app for Hispanic Americans, using AI to offer personalized financial education, generate future cash flows, and guide strategic investing in the U.S.

Matching Students Abroad – Maryann Vazhapilly ’24; Miranda Song ’24 – Matching Students Abroad is an app that allows exchange and international students to meet each other by providing percentage matches based on responses from their profiles.

Memorial Music – Lauren Twombly ’24 – Memorial Music provides live harp music to funeral homes that are interested in offering live music as a default part of their deluxe packages.

M’Elyon Organics – Adeuwnmi Agagu ’25 – At M’Elyon Organics, we passionately craft organic, handmade haircare products, blending the purest plant-based herbs, lightweight oils, and essential oils.

MyUniventure – Brandon Fung ’24; Jake Blum ’24; Caleb McClatchey ’24; Megan Nee – MyUniventure is an online platform which enables prospective college students and their families to book one-on-one experiences with current college students of their choosing. These experiences are designed to give prospective students a personal, unscripted perspective of the universities they are interested in.

Nerve Systems – Cartor Hancock ’26 – Design improved non-invasive devices & methods for high spatial and temporal resolution brain scanning and targeted neuron stimulation.

Strapt – Emily Ciardiello ’24 – Strapt LLC offers luxury phone accessories that allow individuals to live worry free. Designed specifically for the socially active, Strapt devices prevent the loss of your phone while out in public, crowded spaces. These accessories are life essentials that also make for great gifts.

SunDance – Eric Detjen ’24 – A CPG developed and marketed to help people embrace their social side by enhancing their energy, happiness, and confidence.

Unifyr: Meeting Mismatch Mayhem Solved – Rohith Pulaputturi MBA ’25 – Spark romance, reconnect with friends, or network seamlessly! Find the perfect “midpoint” venue for any meet-up, blending individual preferences – cuisine, activities, even allergies. Say goodbye to generic cafes, hello to unique restaurants, museums, adventure spots, and more! Personalized connections start with the perfect meeting place.

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track Semifinalists – Honorable Mention

AR Billboard – Tracy Chen ’24 – AR Billboard is a free AR content management platform for local business.

BoostMark.io – Armaan Jain ’26; Aadesh Kheria – BoostMark.io is an advanced bookmark management tool designed to streamline and enhance your web browsing experience.

Cutz – Oliver Fitch ’24; Ben Dietz – Cutz is designed as a center for appointment creation, 3D haircut scanning and modeling, as well as a social media hub to show and share haircuts with your friends.

Cordeaux A – Astrid Tagne ’26 – Cordeaux A is a Cameroonian-owned brand selling handmade bags straight from the motherland.

John – Utkarsh Agrawal ’24 – Improving car service industry using machine learning and augmented reality.

Munching Boxes – Bhavya Peddigari ’24; Satish Vennapu, ’24 – Munching Boxes revolutionizes the convenience food industry by offering high-quality, affordable, and nutritious ready-to-eat Indian recipes, uniquely packaged in eco-friendly, edible, and crisp boxes, catering to kitchen-challenged, time and budget-conscious consumers seeking quick, healthy, and delicious meal options.

PTBamboo – Brennen Le ’27 – Our platform enables individuals to get information straight from the source– going to the individuals who experience events firsthand without having experience filtered by mediary entities.

Sanda Technology – Srinickethan Ramamoorthy ’25 – The company utilizes advanced automation in medical coding to deliver rapid and precise solutions, catering to healthcare providers seeking precise code accuracy for billing, minimizing errors, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

VogueVeda – Yashveer Jain ’24; Dhruv Sharma ’24; Suryavardhan Reddy Chappidi ’24 – VogueVeda is at the forefront of a technological revolution in the fashion industry. Utilizing advanced AI algorithms, the system is designed to adapt and refine fashion recommendations by continuously learning from user interactions.

Our Incredible Judges

These early stages of Pitch Dingman Competition set the entire experience into motion and we are grateful for this exceptional group of judges that review, score and provide growth feedback for all 100+ applications. These judges are or were founders/investors/entrepreneurial support individuals themselves, and have played significant roles in our programs over the years. Thank you for all you do to support these founders in their journeys!

Alumni Pilot Track

Ben Taylor
Cedric Nwafor
Dan Raithel
Evan Shubin
Francie Wasser
Henrik de Gyor
Janice Burg-Levi
Kirk Morris
Max Weiner
Rick Genzer

Main Street Track

Alan Spurgin
Audrey Awasom
Edwin Bright Djampa
Mathew Parsons
Neal Kursban
Shalanda Armstrong
Shane Kim
Zeluis Teixeira

Quattrone Tech Track

Athena Abbott
Ben Tchoubineh
Camilo Melnyk
Dan Fucich
Fredrica Antwi
Kendall Holbrook
Kevin Tu
Maurice Boissiere
Steve Freishtat

Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track

Barathi Aravindan
Benjamin Taragin
Blake Kuzemchak
Brandon Schwab
Connie Ford
Daniel Shapiro
Ellen McGeoch
Gabrielle McLaughlin
Goodness Ihekweme
Joelle Anselmo
Matthew Foulk
Nishelle Oglesby
Robert Choe
Sanketh Andhavarapu

Tagged dingman center, entrepreneurship, pitch dingman, startup, Student Entrepreneur

Apr 28 2023

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Feature Friday, Pitch Dingman

Feature Friday! Around the Block

*Co-founders of Around the Block, Gabrielle McLaughlin ’23 (left) and Joelle Anselmo ’23 (right) pitching during the Pitch Dingman Competition 2023 *Finals*.*

DC: What are your names, majors, and graduation years?
McLaughlin: My name is Gabi McLaughlin and I am a senior finance and management major. Joelle Anselmo my co-founder is a senior journalism and business management major.

DC: Which Dingman Center programs have you been involved with?
McLaughlin: We have been involved with the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship’s Pitch Dingman Competition 2023. We have also come in for Dingman Advising.

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
McLaughlin: Around the Block is a college apparel company that sells unique and sustainable clothing. These products provide a snapshot of College towns which invoke nostalgia and represent college from the students perspective.

DC: Who or what is your biggest influence for your startup?
McLaughlin: It is hard to pick just one! So many people have helped and inspired us along the way. Joelle and I have a professor named Steve Freishtat and I would say that so far he has left a very lasting influence on the business and us as entrepreneurs and people!

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
McLaughlin: We originally had the idea for the map and instantly thought it would be fun to put the maps on tshirts. This is how we got into the apparel business. We would love to continue expanding into other merchandise.

*Around the Block taking home the Main Street Track’s Grand Prize of $20,000 at the PDC 2023.*

DC: Now that you’ve won the Pitch Dingman Competition ‘23, what’s next for your company?
McLaughlin: We plan on expanding our company and ramping up production. In the past we did not have the resources to put in big orders and we’re falling short of demand. With the Pitch Dingman prize we can reach out potential at UMD and begin looking at product expansion and expansion to other Universities. We are also able to make lots of improvements on our marketing and online presence.

DC: As a student business owner, how do you define success?
McLaughlin: I am not sure if I have one solid definition yet for success. It changes every year for me right now as I’m going through different phases of life and school. I will be proud if ATB makes a lasting impact on campus communities and helps foster a more sustainable and philanthropic retail industry.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
McLaughlin: My first advice would be to just go for it! If you are ever hesitating about starting something try to start small and test it out and you may be surprised with what you find. I would also advise people to find mentors and surround themselves with a great support system to help them along the way.

To learn more about Around the Block, please visit the website here.

Tagged Feature Friday, Pitch Dingman Competition

Apr 14 2023

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Feature Friday, Pitch Dingman

Feature Friday! Room 242

DC: What is your name, major, and graduation year?
Ewimbi: My name is Kang Ewimbi, Entertainment Industry major, Arts Leadership minor, ’24.

DC: Which Dingman Center programs have you been involved with?
Ewimbi: 2022 Startup Accelerator and the 2023 Pitch Dingman Competition Finals.

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Ewimbi: Room 242 is an incubator for college artists that provides a pathway to the career young musicians want, and the communal support every young musician needs. We offer our residential artist development communities, modern label services, and events curated for the underground community.

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
Ewimbi: I decided to start a business in the entertainment industry because I know from firsthand experience how difficult it is to begin your musical journey, and I wanted to address those difficulties for the artists I’m constantly surrounded by.

*2022 Spotify Wrapped impressions of 242, a music group singed to label Room 242.*

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company since your time in Terp Startup Accelerator?
Ewimbi: We’ve made it through to the 2023 Pitch Dingman Competition, earned over $7,000 in the last 6 months, surpassed a total 1 million streams on our releases, made plans to launch our first living space this fall, and booked more shows in the DMV area.

DC: What’s the most important thing you are working on right now and how are you making it happen?
Ewimbi: The most important thing we’re working on (besides our pitch!) is getting our housing option ready to launch this fall. From building the recording studio to setting up the house venue, we want to make sure our first space is the embodiment of a creative community.

DC: As a student business owner, how do you define success?
Ewimbi: I define success as the freedom to do what you want when you want to do it. The closer one gets to that point, the more successful they truly are.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Ewimbi: My biggest piece of advice would be to start the business that you wished existed. Help the next generation by creating tools, resources, products, and services you wish were there for you.

To learn more about Room 242, please visit the website here.

Tagged Feature Friday

Mar 17 2023

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Feature Friday, Pitch Dingman

Feature Friday! Rent My Closet

*Rent My Closet is a digital platform that aims to challenge fast fashion by creating a network of students on campus who can rent one another’s clothing and accessories—regardless of the occasion.*

DC: What is your name, major, and graduation year?
Khana: My name is Ariyan Khana. I am an Information Systems at the Smith School of Business and I will be graduating in May of 2023

DC: Which Dingman Center programs have you been involved with?
Khana: The Dingman Advising Center has been a great resource to us and provided a lot of valuable feedback on what the direction of our company should be. Rent My Closet is participating in the Pitch Dingman Competition 2023 Semifinals.

*Ariyan Khana* ’23, founder of Rent My Closet

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Khana: Rent My Closet is focused on creating a peer-to-peer network for students on campus where items can be rented out for various occasions at an affordable price. The purpose of our venture is to tackle fast-fashion head on, provide students with an opportunity to earn extra income, and create a sense of community for students on campus through our network.

DC: What or who is your biggest influence for your startup?
Khana: My parents are my biggest influence for my startup. They showed me that you must be resilient as an entrepreneur and always push through even when it may seem difficult to do so. They have pushed through to give me the best opportunities possible and I plan to do the exact same.

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
Khana: I decided to start a business in this industry so that we can limit fast fashion, but still increase clothing options for students on and off campus. Instead of purchasing brand new clothes at a premium, you can rent clothes for a fraction of the price. I also wanted to give back to students which is why students can also earn money by renting out their clothes on Rent My Closet.

DC: What’s the most important thing you are working on right now and how are you making it happen?
Khana: The most important thing we are working on right now is developing an app where customers can order right through their phones! The app is currently underway, but should be ready by this fall!

DC: As a student business owner, what motivates you?
Khana: As a student business owner, what motivates me is the freedom to be your own boss. With your own startup, you have the ability to be creative and think outside the box. Even though a startup is a lot of responsibility, it can be really amazing to see how much progress you have made with your company.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Khana: My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to find opportunities whenever you can. Nothing in life will be handed to you on a silver plate. You need to be able to make the most of each opportunity. Reach out to founders of start-ups, see what mistakes they made when they first began, and learn from them! You will have your own obstacles, but it can never hurt to learn from others!

To learn more about Rent My Closet, please visit the website here.

Tagged Feature Friday

Jun 01 2022

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EnTERPreneurs, Pitch Dingman, Terp Startup

JASON AND JAMIE COHEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP FUND AWARD 2022 RECIPIENT – North Star Creations

North Star Creations is a startup founded by Maryland Smith graduate student Mat Parsons, MBA ’22, and his wife Elaine Parsons. North Star Creations creates products for parents to teach their children how to recognize and understand emotions. These tools will equip their children with self awareness and relationship skills to navigate through life. North Star Creations was a part of Terp Startup Accelerator in summer 2021, won the Grand Prize for the Fearless Ideas Track at Pitch Dingman Competition 2021, and won third place in the Main Street Track at Pitch Dingman Competition 2022. Upon his 2022 MBA graduation, Parsons became a member of the Dingman Center’s Young Alumni Founders Council.

North Star Creations has been chosen as the recipient for the 2022 Jason ’96 & Jamie Cohen Entrepreneurship Fund Award. Parsons will receive $1,000 to further accelerate his startup, selected due to the perseverance, level of engagement, and growth potential he has shown over the course of the year. According to Parsons, the funding will be put towards developing a toy face that children can use to express how they are feeling in a fun way.

Congratulations to Mat and Elaine Parsons of North Star Creations!

May 23 2022

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Dingman Fridays, EnTERPreneurs, Ladies First, New Venture Practicum, Pitch Dingman, Terp Marketplace

That’s a Wrap! Spring 2022 at the Dingman Center

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is wrapping up a busy semester of events and programs. We are pleased to report that our students are excited to engage with us in person while we are continuing to offer some virtual options. We are proud to see our enTERPreneurs continuing to thrive, and look forward to the exciting work that will come out of the Terp Startup Accelerator cohort this summer.

Join us in looking back over our spring 2022 semester…

Signature Events & Programs

Dingman Fridays

This semester, we continued using a hybrid model to deliver Dingman Fridays where the first Friday of each month was held in person at Van Munching Hall and following Fridays were held virtually over Zoom. Each week the Dingman Center hosted a series of experienced entrepreneurs as well as a legal advisor who gave students, alumni, staff and faculty practical and actionable feedback on business ideas. If you’re interested in participating, sign up for the Dingman Fridays newsletter to be notified when we bring back Dingman Fridays in the fall.

Feb. 23 – Being Black in Entrepreneurship Event

To celebrate Black History Month, The Dingman Center partnered with Southern Management Leadership Program to organize our third annual Being Black in Entrepreneurship event via Zoom. Panelists Audrey Awasom ‘18, Founder & CEO at Noble Uprising and André Blackman ‘05, Founder and CEO of Onboard Health, were joined by moderator Sydney Parker ’18, CMO of Aurora Tights as they discussed their contributions and experiences as Black entrepreneurs.

Mar. 15 – Terp Marketplace

*Dean Konana visiting Terp Marketplace venture, The CP Thrift Shop.*

This semester, 37 students startups got to test the market by setting up tables in Van Munching Hall and selling their products and services for Terp Marketplace. The turn out was huge as vendors sold an array of products and services like sustainable clothing, delicious treats, custom candles, and more.

Apr. 26 – Pitch Dingman Competition

The three top Quattrone Venture Track teams pose with their winnings.

After two years of being virtual, the Dingman Center held Pitch Dingman Competition 2022 Finals in person at Stamp Grand Ballroom. The event was bigger and better than ever with over 300 in-person and over 500 virtual attendees watching the six student start up finalists pitch to judges Shark Tank style. While all of the finalists did an outstanding job presenting their business and ideas, this year, Edwin Djampa ’22, founder of Omega 3, won the grand prize for the Main Street Track and Sanketh Andhavarapu ’23, founder of Vitalize, won the grand prize for the Quattrone Venture Track.

Terp Ladies First Founders Class

Ladies First Founders is the Dingman Center’s signature course for female and non-binary students interested in entrepreneurship. This semester, 13 students worked to build soft skills for overcoming gender biases in entrepreneurship. Unlike previous years, students did not need to have launched a venture, as the focus of the course was on demystifying entrepreneurship.

To learn more about the course and why these students took it read here.

Fearless Founders: New Venture Practicum

New Venture Practicum is another one of the Dingman Center’s signature courses where students experiment with business models, revenue streams and go-to-market strategies. After developing their business throughout the semester, students end the course by pitching for seed funding.

This semester’s cohort included:

Build Bigger – Jonathan MacGregor ’22
Easy Park – Sarthak Patel ’25
Em G Art Design Studio – Emily Garcia ’24 (Studio Art and Art Education)
Heart2Starr – Ileana Lozano ’22
Odin Electric – Paul Mouring ’22 (Mechanical Engineering)
Sequester Carbon Certified – Nathan McMullen ’23
Shai Consulting – Shiv Agarwal ’23
Stockadoo – Hrithik Bansal ’22 (Computer Science) and Justin Fenn ’22 (Computer Science)
Sparza – Ryan Myer ’22 (Finance and Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
Treasuremybeaute’ – Treasure Valdez ’23 (Communication)
Tribar – Perri Moeller ’22
UCleaner – Blake Kuzemchak ’23
Undefined Dreamerz – Takiyah Roberts ’25 (Material Science Engineering)
Venture – Isaac Lefkovitz ’24 Samai Patel ’24

To learn more about the course and the businesses involved read here.

Founders Forum

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_1676-1-1-1024x768.jpg — *Founders Forum is held once a month, shown here at The Hall CP.*

Not only will events like the Pitch Dingman Competition–among other Dingman Center programs–benefit your business, but they will provide you with a community of supportive like-minded individuals. Once a month, both current and alumni members of Terp Startup, Pitch Dingman Finalists and Startup Shell participate in Founders Forum. This forum is an opportunity for participants to hone entrepreneurial skills, learn from peers, and catch up with one another. During these meetings, we dive into a new topic related to running a businesses in a roundtable-style, while also making time to socialize.

Terp Startup Accelerator

This is now the program’s eighth consecutive year, and the first time the program will be held live again after two virtual years. Aside from the program’s workshops and roundtable discussions held throughout the summer, each team in the cohort will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 and a dedicated advisor to help them grow their businesses.

Arch Dash – Ina Kovacheva ’23 (Computer Science)
Bedtime Sports – Josh Doying MBA ’23
CryptoKicks – Shiv Agarwal ’23 (Psychology)
Em G Art Design Studio – Emily Garcia ’22 (Studio Art & Art Education)
EMPIRE 242 – Kang Ewimbi ’23 (Entertainment Industry)
JuJu Food Delivery – Weixiang Wang ’22 (Computer Science), Nanxin Luo ’25 (Finance and Information Systems), Zeyang Liu ’22 (Economics), Keying Sun ’23 (Statistics), Liqianrui Yang ’22 (Economics and Management), Zirui Zhou
Omega 3 – Edwin Bright Djampa ’22 (Nutritional Food Science)
ReGlass – Bennett Greenspun ’24 (Astronomy)
Sparza – Ryan Myer ’22 (Finance), Kyle Sznoluch
Sustainabli – Alisha Pun ’24 (Economics)
TapIn – Rob (Diego) Castro ’24 (Finance), Zach Lefkovitz ’24 (Computer Science), Samai Patel ’25 (Computer Science), Corbin Voorhees ’25 (Aerospace Engineering), Joe Beckman ’25 (Undecided), Matt Gashaw ’25 (Computer Science), Edward Awe ’25 (Finance, Government and Politics), Neil Kundagrami ’24 (Computer Science and Math)
UCleaner – Robert Choe PhD ’23 (Bioengineering), Blake Kuzemchak PhD ’23 (Bioengineering), Erfan Jabari PhD ’23 (Bioengineering), Noah Eby PhD ’23 (Bioengineering)

We’re Still #Trending!

The Dingman Center is officially on TikTok

The Dingman Center has stayed #trending this semester with our TikTok account! We have posted four videos advertising Giving Day, Terp Marketplace and Pitch Dingman Competition 2022–with more videos to come in the summer and fall. So far, our videos have almost 3,300 views combined. Be sure to check out our account and give us a follow to get exclusive Dingman Center content.

We hope everyone in the Dingman Center community has a restful and relaxing summer. We can’t wait for all the remarkable entrepreneurship to come in the upcoming school year.

Warmly,
The Dingman Center Team

Feb 25 2022

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Pitch Dingman

ANNOUNCING THE QUARTERFINALITS & SEMIFINALISTS OF THE 2022 PITCH DINGMAN COMPETITION

Pitch Dingman Competition 2022 received over 60 student applications, all vying for a piece of over $75,000 in prize money. Our panel of judges were able to narrow down our wide range of applicants to reveal our quarterfinalists and semifinalists for the Main Street Track and Quattrone Venture Track for the 2022 competition, as well as our advancing finalists for the Fearless Ideas Track. The founders of the semifinalists teams will each receive a $500 prize, participate in workshops, and meet with advisors in the coming weeks to help them further accelerate their businesses and make them more competitive for the upcoming Semifinalist round. On Friday, April 8 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., our 12 Semifinalists will pitch their businesses to an expert panel of judges at the Pitch Dingman Competition Semifinals in Van Munching Hall. We’re excited to see who wins the opportunity to pitch at the Finals event on April 26, 2022 for a shot at our grand prize of $30,000!

Read on to learn more about the ventures that will be advancing in our competition:

Main Street Track Semifinalists:

Crys & Co Cosmetics – Crystal Pinckney ’22
Crys & Co is a marketplace for women to enhance their natural beauty with eyelash extensions. Crys & Co provides a directory of qualified lash technicians and accessories.

Fusion100 – Ilan Orgel ’22
Fusion100 is a clothing company shipping orders across the globe with unique designs that catch the attention of consumers.

MatMate – James Dawson ’24
The MatMate is a novel, patent pending protective device that stops the driver’s heel from wearing through their car’s floor mat. It attaches with carpet safe adhesive, making it a risk-free, totally unobtrusive solution to this issue.

North Star Creations – Mat Parsons, MBA ’22, Elaine Parsons
North Star Creations creates products for parents to teach their children how to recognize and understand emotions. These tools will equip their children with self awareness and relationship skills to navigate through life.

Omega 3 LLC – Edwin Djampa ’22, Virgil Sermon ’22
Omega 3 is the nutritional food brand pioneering the use of brain-boosting, organic ingredients without compromising quality, taste, or sustainability.

SIERRASINVOGUE – Sierra Sesay ’24
“SIERRASINVOGUE” or shortly known as “SIV” is a slow fashion clothing brand that custom creates clothing pieces such as crewnecks, pants, and shorts made from woven blanket material.

Quattrone Venture Track Semifinalists:

Athenus Financial Group, LLC – Cameron Williams ’21, Damian Shaw ’24
Athenus is the first fintech app focused on amateur foreign exchange traders. Athenus simplifies the market in a way that is more digestible and by using machine learning AI to analyze the market so that users can make informed decisions.

Chat Health – Aishwarya Tare ’22, Veeraj Shah ‘21, Shobha Dasari, Neil Mehta
Chat Health is a digital health assistant that closes gaps in the healthcare-seeking process for university students and helps users access those resources through an empathetic design.

Gelectric Medical INC – Leah Borden ’22, Matthew Dowling, James Borden, Wilson Sonsini
Gelectric Medical INC produces a surgical adhesive patch that will function as an alternative to existing sutures or surgical glues. The product has advantages for use in cases that existing surgical techniques fail and is a class 3 medical device.

Quandry – Bryan Houlton ’23, Ryan Downing, Peter Geertsema
Quandry gives small-cap retail traders tools for researching, developing, and deploying automated trading strategies.

Vitalize – Sanketh Andhavarapu ’23, Veeraj Shah ’21
Vitalize improves well-being and reduces burnout among healthcare providers. We offer a clinician-centric cognitive behavioral therapy mobile app and web-based dashboard with robust analytics and actionable insights for hospital leadership.

WISE Cities, LLC – Marie Brodsky ’24, Katherine-Aria Close, Victoria Chai, Sonia Warrior
WISE Cities designs accessible technology to address social isolation among the elderly. Our first app allows seniors to form local groups, and gives community centers and local businesses the opportunity to connect with this hard-to-reach audience.

Main Street Track Quarterfinalists:

Game Changers New York – Sara Blau ’24
Game Changers New York is a 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that collects and distributes sports equipment for kids in need globally.

Priority Resell – Adwin Paul ’23
Priority Resell is a shoe consignment shop based out of College Park/Germantown, Maryland. Priority Resell provides customers around the nation with the ability to buy, sell, and trade shoes that are scarce on the market.

SOAL Sound – Giles Oji ’23
SOAL Sound is an independent record label that currently offers management services to two independent artists.

Quattrone Venture Track Quarterfinalists:

Memento Digital Labs – Brian Paul ’22, Ian Costello, Ben DiMarco
Memento Digital Labs is democratizing art by making NFTs more accessible and affordable to buy from professional artists. Our platform uses a checkout with a credit card for artists to sell their digital goods more conveniently.

Pet Passport – Dorian Stephens MBA ’22, Alex Sonnie, Anthony Small, Ogugua Obii-Obioha, Shahriar Jahanbani, Dorian Stephens, Musangu Tanguy Bukasa
Pet Passport is an online network that allows vets, kennels, and pet owners to seamlessly connect and transfer animal records, behavioral data, and owner information on one platform.

Repurpose Farm Plastic LLC. – Krisztina Christmon ’22, Benjamin Rickles PhD ’23
Repurpose Farm Plastic LLC. is designing a small-scale cleaning technology specific for plastics used in Agriculture.

Shellter Co. – Daniel Park ’24, Zach Zhao
Shellter is a mobile platform that allows college students to find and join course group chats simply by entering their course schedule.

Soshi – Jason Steinberg ’24, Yuvan Sundrani, Sid Jagtap
Soshi is a platform that enables users and businesses to share all of their social media and contact information in one place with one tap. Our mission at Soshi is to help people turn new friends into long-lasting connections.

Tyme – Joe Kattan ’22
Tyme is a marketplace connecting salespeople & decision-makers. We’re making B2B outbound sales cheaper & faster, all while delivering a better experience for prospects.

Fearless Ideas Track Finalists:

Mysillybum – Diana Velasquez-kolnik MBA ’22, Perri Moeller, Spencer Pretecrum, Bishoy Guid, Kushal Reddy
Mysillybum provides biodegradable diapers for eco-conscious parents without the additional level of effort required.

Presence Learning Management System – Jason Alexander Fotso-Puepi ’23
Presence is a virtual reality learning management system that aims to increase student engagement and retention through the use of immersive technologies while giving instructors the tools they need to track and personalize the students experience.

ReGlass – Bennett Greenspun ’24
ReGlass is a company who makes glasses with interchangeable lenses. It’s made for people who want a cheaper frame alternative and people who want greater customization in fashion eyewear.

Dec 16 2021

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Dingman Fridays, E-fund, EnTERPreneurs, Fearless Founders, Ladies First, Pitch Dingman, Terp Marketplace, Terp Startup

That’s a Wrap! Fall 2021 at the Dingman Center

*The Dingman Center team celebrated* *Venture Programs Intern* Barathi Aravindan’s Fall 2021 graduation at Terpzone.

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is wrapping up a semester of live, virtual and hybrid programming. We are pleased to report that our students are excited to engage with us in person while still having some virtual options. As finals week comes to an end and holiday break begins, we want to take the time to reflect on the Dingman Center’s successful programs, events and more. Join us in looking at our Fall 2021 semester recap!

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Sep 10 2021

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Feature Friday! Vitalize

*Vitalize is a digital wellness platform tailored to healthcare providers.*

DC: What’s your names, majors, minors, and graduation years?
Andhavarapu: My name is Sanketh Andhavarapu (May 2023) and I’m majoring in Health Decision Sciences and Neurobiology with a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Shah: My name is Veeraj Shah (May 2021) and I graduated from the University of Maryland with degrees in Health Policy & Technology and Neurobiology. I’m now pursuing a PhD in Public Health at the University of Cambridge in the UK.

DC: Which Dingman Center programs have you been involved with?
Andhavarapu: With Vitalize, we completed the Terp Startup Accelerator in 2020. We also frequently participate in Dingman Fridays to receive coaching. I also participated in the Pitch Dingman Competition earlier this year with my nonprofit STEPS, where we were awarded 2nd place in the Main Street Track.

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Shah: Vitalize is a digital wellness platform tailored to healthcare providers to improve their well-being and reduce burnout. We offer clinician-focused cognitive behavioral therapy through a mobile app, and robust analytics and actionable insights on staff well-being trends and app engagement for hospital leadership.

DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?
Andhavarapu: In high school, I had the opportunity to be the Chief Human Resources Officer of a nonprofit organization. I learned that I really enjoyed leading and inspiring teams to collectively achieve social impact. This experience directly motivated me to found STEPS, a revenue-generating education nonprofit. In this role, I realized how important it was for me to take on an irreplaceable role in anything that I put time and effort into. I liked knowing that as a founder, there is no one more knowledgeable about your idea and innovation than yourself, and that you’re leaving a unique footprint on the world. I didn’t find this same sense of personal fulfillment when looking at the different clubs I could join when I first came to UMD. This is why, when I had the idea for Vitalize, I knew I had to take action and it was a no-brainer that I wanted to invest my time and effort into making it successful.

Veeraj Shah ‘21

Shah: Early in my time at UMD, I dove into the field of public health. My sophomore year, I worked with the Chief Administrator of Health & Human Services for Prince George’s County as a health policy intern, and began to see the world of local public health in action. But what I saw was a landscape full of opportunities for innovation, and how policy alone would not be able to tackle some of the most pressing health disparities and equity gaps present right in my backyard. That summer, I worked as a business analyst intern at IBM Watson Health, spearheading health technology efforts that would improve the state-level innovation capacity of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. I quickly saw how simply innovations had the opportunity to improve the quality of healthcare delivery and prevent the burden of disease.

From that summer on, I knew that my interests lied as a health technology entrepreneur, where I was able to connect my interests in technology to solve critical problems in healthcare and public health. As a founder, I also soon realized how exciting it was to begin building a team and to truly become a subject matter expert on a topic you care about. Vitalize directly reflects these passions – leveraging technology to improve the wellbeing of healthcare providers, and building an incredible team of students committed to this mission.

DC: What or who is your biggest influence for your startup?
Andhavarapu: Both of us have had mentors and family members suffer from burnout as healthcare providers. We saw how people who committed their professional life to helping others were constantly emotionally exhausted, had poor wellbeing, and in some cases wanted to leave healthcare completely. As aspiring healthcare providers and entrepreneurs, we wanted to ensure that healthcare providers had all the resources necessary to achieve the best wellbeing. We see Vitalize as the first step towards creating lasting cultural transformation surrounding wellness and stigma in healthcare.

DC: How have the effects of the pandemic changed your company’s focus or ideas?
Shah: The idea for Vitalize was actually born prior to the pandemic. Burnout among healthcare providers is a decades-long issue. The onset of the pandemic exacerbated the problem and also highlighted the dire need for new solutions, motivating us to pursue Vitalize as a company. The added free time that came with online classes and being in quarantine also allowed us to put more time into Vitalize.

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last six months?
Andhavarapu: The last 6 months have been very exciting for Vitalize. We are just about finished the development of our product, which we will be launching through a public beta with over 100 clinicians in the next couple weeks. We also secured a hospital pilot with Midland Memorial Hospital in Texas, which we will be conducting as a research study in November to evaluate the efficacy of our product and collect data. Finally, we’ve also garnered interest from two hospital interests in larger scale pilots (1000+ providers), which we’re hoping to execute in early 2022.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Shah: Don’t underestimate the importance of customer discovery. If you have an idea that you are looking to pursue, it is important to conduct several unbiased interviews with all the potential stakeholders (customers, payers, partners, etc). Customer discovery is a great way to validate assumptions and de-risk your startup before investing too much money and time into a potentially flawed concept. It’s also important that you build a strong team with diverse skill sets who are all passionate about the problem being solved and are willing to commit long hours to see the company come to fruition.

For more information about Vitalize, please visit the website here.

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